Saturday, December 13, 2008

Kandal Man Hit With Bird Flu

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
12 December 2008



The Ministry of Health on Friday confirmed Cambodia’s eighth case of avian influenza, the first case this year, in a Kandal province resident.

Teng Sopheak, 19, from Kadal Steung district, was diagnosed with the disease after consuming poultry at the annual Water Festival, falling ill with a fever, cough, muscle aches and a soar throat. He is now recovering at Calmette hospital.

The H5N1 virus, which typically occurs in chicken and other birds, is a concern to global health officials because of its potential to mutate into a more readily contagious form.

Health officials said Friday field investigation teams from the ministry were conducting house-to-house searches in the affected area in search of people with bird flu symptoms and are conducting a detailed investigation of poultry deaths in the village.

Cambodia’s seven other cases were fatal, while 246 people have so far died from the disease worldwide.

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